Proposal Success Specialist, Data Science and Analytics Innovation Center (dSAIC)

About the Role

The Proposal Success Specialist reports to the Executive Director of the Data Science and Analytics Innovation Center (dSAIC) and works in close partnership with the C-IGNITE Director through a dotted-line reporting relationship. This position serves as a primary proposal development resource and tactical engine for research growth initiatives across the University of Missouri-Kansas City, with particular emphasis on multidisciplinary and AI-enabled research opportunities.

Approximately 70% of the position's effort is dedicated to direct proposal development, proposal coordination, and strategic research support activities aligned with dSAIC-supported initiatives. This position provides cradle-to-grave support for complex, multidisciplinary, and collaborative grant proposals, helping faculty investigators and research teams develop competitive submissions to federal agencies, foundations, industry sponsors, healthcare organizations, and other funding partners.

The Specialist works closely with principal investigators, proposal teams, university leadership, and external collaborators to translate innovative research concepts into compelling and fundable proposals. Primary responsibilities include solicitation analysis, proposal coordination, narrative development, competitiveness reviews, proposal readiness planning, and submission preparation. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting multidisciplinary initiatives and AI-related research opportunities through collaboration between dSAIC and C-IGNITE.

In addition to proposal development, the position supports strategic research growth through coordination of large-scale research initiatives, stakeholder engagement, project management, proposal readiness activities, and startup coordination for newly funded strategic initiatives. These responsibilities are intended to strengthen proposal competitiveness and facilitate successful project launch while maintaining proposal development as the primary focus of the role.

The position contributes to UMKC's long-term growth in externally funded research by strengthening proposal competitiveness, expanding collaborative opportunities, supporting AI-enabled research development, and helping build institutional capacity for research excellence. The role serves as a bridge between dSAIC and C-IGNITE in advancing institutionally significant research initiatives and external funding success.

Position Context

This position is jointly supported through a partnership between the Data Science and Analytics Innovation Center (dSAIC) and C-IGNITE. While proposal development remains the primary responsibility, the role also supports strategic AI-related research initiatives, interdisciplinary collaborations, and institutionally significant projects that advance UMKC's research mission.

Responsibilities

• Proposal Development & Faculty Support (Primary Responsibility):
  • Provide cradle-to-grave proposal development support for faculty investigators and research teams.
  • Conduct in-depth analyses of funding solicitations (RFPs, RFAs, FOAs, and program announcements) and translate requirements into actionable timelines, compliance matrices, checklists, and proposal development plans.
  • Coordinate proposal timelines, meetings, milestones, deliverables, and submission activities.
  • Draft, edit, and review proposal narratives, project summaries, management plans, broader impacts statements, community engagement plans, industry partnership plans, and other supporting materials.
  • Ensure proposal narratives and supporting documents align directly with sponsor review criteria, evaluation metrics, and program goals.
  • Facilitate multidisciplinary and multi-institutional proposal development teams. Support proposal strategy, competitive positioning, and reviewer responsiveness.
  • Coordinate mock review panels, proposal reviews, and other quality-improvement activities.
  • Assist faculty in analyzing reviewer feedback and developing resubmission strategies.
  • Develop proposal templates, tools, guidance documents, and best practices that improve proposal quality and efficiency.
  • Support rapid-response proposal efforts for high-priority opportunities and limited-submission competitions.
• Funding Opportunity Development:
  • Identify, evaluate, and disseminate funding opportunities from federal, foundation, industry, healthcare, nonprofit, and community sponsors.
  • Monitor sponsor priorities, emerging funding trends, and strategic investment areas.
  • Conduct opportunity assessments to help faculty determine competitiveness and strategic fit.
  • Support proposal pipeline management and opportunity tracking activities.
  • Assist faculty investigators in aligning research concepts with sponsor priorities and institutional strengths.
  • Help research teams maintain proposal readiness for high-priority opportunities and short-turnaround solicitations.
• AI & Strategic Research Proposal Support:
  • Collaborate with dSAIC leadership and faculty teams to support AI-related research proposal development.
  • Support multidisciplinary initiatives involving artificial intelligence, data science, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies.
  • Assist faculty and research teams in responding to strategic AI funding opportunities.
  • Help coordinate institutionally significant proposals aligned with UMKC's strategic research priorities.
• Large-Scale Research Initiative Coordination & Project Management:
  • Support planning and coordination of large-scale, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional research initiatives.
  • Provide project management support for strategic research initiatives, including workplan development, milestone tracking, deliverable management, stakeholder coordination, meeting facilitation, risk identification, and project reporting.
  • Assist project leaders with stakeholder engagement, documentation, communications, and collaboration activities.
  • Support project tracking, milestone monitoring, and coordination of proposal-related activities.
  • Assist with proposal transition and startup coordination activities for newly funded strategic initiatives, ensuring continuity between proposal development and project launch while maintaining a primary focus on pre-award support.
  • Help establish project management practices that improve coordination, accountability, and research team effectiveness.
  • Facilitate collaboration among investigators, university leadership, industry partners, community organizations, and external collaborators.
• Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Support development of research collaborations and proposal partnerships.
  • Coordinate and manage letters of support and partner communications.
  • Assist faculty in communicating research value propositions to sponsors, industry partners, foundations, and community stakeholders.
  • Support engagement activities that strengthen research, innovation, workforce development, and community impact.
• Proposal Readiness, Training & Capacity Building:
  • Support proposal development workshops, seminars, and faculty training programs.
  • Assist with proposal readiness initiatives and strategic grant-seeking efforts.
  • Develop resources, templates, toolkits, and best-practice guides for faculty and research teams.
  • Support campus initiatives that enhance proposal competitiveness and research growth.
• Operational Support & Continuous Improvement:
  • Utilize proposal development platforms, research support systems, and emerging AI-enabled technologies to improve proposal development efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Track proposal activity, submissions, funding outcomes, partnerships, and strategic initiatives.
  • Prepare program reports and metrics that support service enhancement, workflow improvements, and leadership decision-making.
  • Contribute to evaluation and implementation of innovative practices that strengthen research development services and proposal competitiveness.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strongly Preferred:
  • Three years of experience in proposal development, grant writing, research development, research administration, project coordination, technical writing, or related fields.
  • Strong written, verbal, organizational, and project management skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a collaborative environment.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience supporting federal, foundation, industry, healthcare, or other sponsored funding programs.
• Experience coordinating complex, multidisciplinary, or multi-institutional proposal efforts.
• Experience in higher education, research administration, sponsored programs, or research development environments.
• Experience working with industry, community, government, or nonprofit partners.
• Familiarity with proposal development tools and funding databases such as Dimensions, GrantForward, Pivot-RP, Scopus, OpenAlex, or similar platforms.
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled technologies to enhance proposal development, coordination, project management, or research support activities.

Pay

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $70,000 - $80,000 annually. Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.

Benefits

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, and more.